Smoothie's

Summer is  here and who doesn’t want something cool and refreshing for those hot, lazy afternoons?  Here are a couple of quick recipes to satisfy your thirst and beat the heat ... including a Watermelon & Mint Refresher, Perfect Lemonade, and Jan's Orange Banana Smoothie!

Watermelon and Mint Refresher

 

 

4 cups watermelon, seeded and cubed
½ cup water
24 mint leaves
½ cup sugar
6-8 slices lemon (or lime), quartered

Place watermelon and water in a blender and blend thoroughly.  In a pitcher, place the mint, lemon/lime slices and sugar and muddle them all together with a wooded spoon, releasing the juice and oils.  Add the watermelon and stir briskly.  Serve over crushed ice.  For a little sparkle, add a 12oz. can of 7-up—-or for the adults, add champagne.  Delicious!

Perfect Lemonade

 

 

2 cups granulated sugar
2 cups water
Mint leaves (optional)
2 cups fresh lemon juice
2 cups water
½ tsp. salt

Make a simple syrup by combining the sugar and water in a saucepan.  Bring to a boil and stir until the sugar is dissolved.  Let cool.  If you would like a mint flavor, add fresh mint leaves to the syrup as it cools. Strain out the mint leaves when you are ready to make the lemonade.  In a large pitcher partially filled with crushed ice, combine the simple syrup, lemon juice, salt and water and stir briskly.  Again, for a little sparkle, replace some of the water with 7-up or champagne.   Perks it up quite nicely!  Garnish with thin lemon slices and enjoy!

 

Jan’s Orange Banana Smoothie

 

 

This is an old family favorite concocted by dear friends many years ago.  It is particularly tasty for Sunday Brunch but is good anytime!

1 12 oz. can frozen orange juice concentrate (1 can will make 2 batches)
1 banana, cut into thirds
1 12 oz. can 7-up (or champagne!)
Crushed ice
Place ½ of the orange juice concentrate and banana in a blender.  Fill it up ¾ of the way with ice and add the 7-up to almost the top.  Blend until creamy and smooth.  Goes particularly well with eggs, little sausages, breakfast rolls and grits!